An accessible, definitive student introduction to geographical thought, this book takes a unique approach that encompasses environmental, historical and social perspectives. Now in its fifth edition, it includes new case studies, and revisions and updates throughout, with additional chapters expanding coverage of global subjects, poststructuralism, and the future of geography.

This text explores complex ideas in an intelligible and accessible style. Illustrated throughout with research examples and explanations in text boxes, questions for discussion at the end of each chapter and a concept glossary, this is the essential student companion to the discipline.

Chapter 1: What is Geography?

Chapter 2: The Roots of Geography

Chapter 3: From Cosmography to Institutionalized Discipline

Chapter 4: The Regional Tradition

Chapter 5: The Growth of Spatial Science: Changing Job Market

Chapter 6: Paradigms and Revolutions

Chapter 7: Positivsm and its Critics

Chapter 8: Alternatives to Spatial Science

Chapter 9: Post-structuralism and Beyond

Chapter 10: Geographical Tasks in a Globalizing World

Supplements

This comprehensive and accessible guide to the full breadth of Geography from an Anglophone perspective—from its beginnings to contemporary debates and from its biophysical to its cultural scholarship—is a must-read for geography undergraduates, but also for academics and interested laypeople encountering contemporary geography, excited by what’s going on, and keen to dig deeper.

Eric Sheppard

Humboldt Chair and Professor of Geography, UCLA

This book should become a core text for all students getting to grips with either the history of geography or new ideas and theories in contemporary human geography. It is clear, comprehensive and intellectually stimulating.

Simon Tate

Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Newcastle University

Arild Holt-Jensen's 5th edition of his significantly re-written and refreshed Geography: History and Concepts is a major achievement as an accessible yet inspiring textbook. It pulls together in an intelligent way different strands of scientific theory, concepts and applications into applied research across geography over the millennia, centuries and decades up until to now. This is most useful to students on courses covering the history, philosophy and overall methodologies in geography at both undergraduate and also conversion Masters courses in geography (including for those moving from physical geography to human geography). This resource for students is necessary within the now much familiar fragmentation and (necessary) specialisation which researchers and much more advanced students are used to, as they at times now realise (again) that they - and our world around us - misses geographers (and those from other social and physical disciplines) of different specialisms addressing grand societal and environmental challenges together.

Richard Kotter

Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Northumbria University

The new edition of the volume is a very thoughtful and balanced book about the beauty of geography as an academic discipline. Holt-Jensen, as an old school geographer, explains in a very clever and intriguing way what geography is, what it can provide and finally how to think geographically, always referring to the roots of the discipline. If you’re looking to understand what geography is and what it has to offer, you’ll find the answers in here. Definitely a book that belongs in every student’s bookshelf and on every teacher’s desk.

Stefan Zimmermann

Senior Researcher, Georg-August-University Göttingen

Revisions for the 5th Edition:

- Addition of 4 chapters (previous edition only 6) to split up bulky chapters
- Chapters 9 & 10 are revitalised with addition of new co-author Pauline Couper.
- New topics of poststructuralism and Geographical Tasks in a Globalizing World (looking at the future of geography)

Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email sageheoa@sagepub.com. Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html.